What was China’s first cartoon?

China's first cartoon was "Shu Zhendong's Chinese Typewriter", which was filmed in 1922. In the 1940s, the Wan brothers created China's first feature-length animation "Princess Iron Fan".

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The behind-the-scenes production of "Princess Iron Fan" in 1941

In the 1920s, China gave birth to its own cartoons, created by the Wan brothers The animated film "Havoc in the Studio" with national characteristics announced the birth of Chinese art films. The truly great work of the Wan brothers is undoubtedly their 80-minute animated feature "Princess with the Iron Fan" completed in 1941. In the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, they carried out anti-Japanese propaganda activities with the belief of "using animation as a weapon" and drew a number of "Anti-Japanese War Slogan Cartoons" and "Anti-Japanese War Songs" in "China". However, in 1940, the Kuomintang's passive anti-war policy was introduced. All films with anti-Japanese war content were rejected and stopped filming. With nothing to do, the Wan brothers returned to the "isolated island" of Shanghai.

In the mid-20th century, the popularity of Disney's animation "Snow White" in Shanghai greatly touched the Wan brothers. They were determined to make a high-quality animated feature film to make them proud. Because of the high risk, "Princess Iron Fan" almost died, but Wan Laiming patted his chest and ensured that he would not lose money, so the film was not abandoned halfway. As a result, more than 100 people worked hard for a year and a half to finally complete this 80-minute animated feature film. The film was screened simultaneously in three cinemas in Shanghai. Its box office revenue exceeded all feature films released at that time, and "Iron" Fan Princess" also became a masterpiece that rivaled the world's animated films at that time.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia Princess Iron Fan